Newsgirl361

Surgery on July 10. On day 2 of liquid diet. Feeling shaky physically and emotionally.

I lost 99 pounds (from 397 to 298) during my six-month, insurance-required diet program. Many people asked me the same thing as my surgery date approached. The answer was simple. I was ready to put an end to my morbid obesity and weight problems. A real end. Not a get-to-250-pounds-and-be-satisfied quasi-end. If I had done that, I'd be 400 pounds again in a couple of years.
The key for me was to keep the eye on the prize. For me, that is 180 pounds and a normal BMI. The sleeve has helped me, and I am now only 14 pounds from goal at 8 months post-op.

I had my 2 week check up yesterday and I was told I could return to Crossfit (I've been going for over 2 years). The Dr said to listen to my body and stop a movement when it hurts. I'm going back to class on Monday and plan to lift light for the first few weeks, but I should be fine with the cardio portions.

Yes, I was thinking a Psyc was next step, I currently don't have one... as sitting down and consuming so much in one sitting after working so hard has to have psychological aspects to it...

Lovex, I am also using Dr. O'Connell! I'm in the same boat with all of the pre op testing and 3 months on the nutrition program. So far I have done every test except sleep study, I am going this Sat to pick the device up. I have my third nutrition appointment with Josh on Monday. Were you scheduled right after your three months were up, or did it take longer to get everything with the office and ins to get approval?
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I am beyond ecstatic. I am now below 300 pounds! I started at 540 pounds on October 29, 2015 when I started this whole journey. I had surgery on May 29, 2016 at 480 pounds and Now, 10 1/2 months later I weigh 297.8! I have not had a 2 in the front of my weight in FOREVER. I only have 98 pounds to go until I hit my goal! (Which may change, I'm more going for a clothing size goal now more than a number goal )

I used to have to be on oxygen all the time because I was so fat I could not breathe properly. Now I can walk for over an hour with no break and not be out of breath! I am so extremely happy with my progress!

I used to HATE getting my picture taken, it was the WORST. Now I love getting in front of the camera, I ASK for pictures to be taken! This is the craziest thing for me. I feel pretty for the first time in a very very long time.

I started out at a size 6x (36-38) and now wear a an 18/20 on top and 22 on bottom. I even wear leggings now!

I have a large hanging skin on my stomach which I am having removed on June 5th! I will need a revision surgery when I get to goal but I am very excited for the surgery and the relief it will give me.

Here are some before and after pics for you guys!

Posting here too, because I am SO EXCITED!!
my six months post op shot. The first is from about a year ago, at my heaviest; the second is about a month post op; the third is today!!

I will be having a VSG this morning. 30# down from my HW of 303. Day of surgery weight is 273. Ready to loose another 100.

Got my weight down. Hopefully my liver has shrunk enough and in less than 24 hours, my VSG surgery will be near complete..
Love y'all [emoji171] Stay Strong [emoji1434]
Ima VSGee
#SW: 319.6 #CW: 295.6 #VSG Date: 5/16/2017

For me, I didn't get a date until all the clearances were completed and the 6 month diet was completed. After being completed, everything was submitted to insurance and once approved I got a date.

Mine is TOMORROW!!!!!!!! [emoji51][emoji1303][emoji1374]

I'm May 23rd surgery date/start liquid diet on 8th of May. I've got all my pre reqs classes/appointments done, except I have an anesthesia appointment next week.
I'm not nervous about the surgery or anything leading up to the surgery, but am really concentrating on the life afterwards and being prepared for eating when surgery is complete. I'm hanging list on refridgerators and bulletin boards. Getting broth ideas and Jello all ready. I bought a Nutra bullet blender for shakes, digital food scales, scales, and some Protein Shake mixes. I know taste changes after surgery, but I felt I had to have some on hand. Protein packs, vitamin patches, energy Patches. It seems like a lot of preparation. I have to admit its a little nerve racking.
I'll also admit that I've found myself distancing and preparing for a social life that doesn't revolve around food, restaurants and going out to eat. I've picked up hobbies like painting, art tours, motorcycle riding, and working out to fill my time. I'm single, so involving a loved one or family members will make my process easier I feel. I do feel that most people I have dated or hang out with that I need to distance myself because our relationships revolve around food, pubs, bars and restaurants. It may seem like I'm trying to just surround myself with people who will make me successful, rather than old habits and situations who will drag me down. I just had to see if anyone else feels this way and get it off my chest.
I have a local support group and nurse that provide a lot of insight and ideas for post surgery life. I get a tremendous amount of information from this website which I am grateful for to everyone.

Real roast beef is too tough for a fresh sleeve, eating stuff like that makes your sleeve work over time and it can twist. Google twisted sleeve. That is one of those complications that does show up until later on, but your actions now can create complications later on.
Post-op diet is a prescription to prevent complications, this is a serious diet, not a time to experiment, you have the rest of your life for that, control yourself for 3 to 6 months. Your life is worth it.

Just eat Protein and veggies.
Don't you have a plan from your Dr? Follow it. Not like a diet, but like a prescription that your life depends on.

I'm almost to the end, Sunday is my last day. In the beginning, I went to bed early. My diet is a little different but was still hard and tough mentally and physically in the beginning. You can do this. It just gets easier and easier.

I started a little higher than you. Surgery day I was a tight 28, by the time I lost 70 pounds, I think I was a 24 or a 22, it gets kind of weird around that point because I changed and skipped sizes.
I still didn't feel very different. I mean I know I had lost weight, and I was smaller but I was still morbidly obese and large to the rest of the world. Plus I was still shopping in the same stores.
I don't think I really started feeling satisfied until about 100-110 pounds down. Even though physically I felt so much better before that mark health wise, looking at myself I couldn't see a lot of difference, not like what other people saw.
Once I could wear like a regular size 18, not a plus size. I was a lot happier

I definitely didn't start because of vanity. Vanity allowed me to think I looked perfectly fine before surgery. I was happy with how I looked.
If I started for vanity and vanity was my motivation, I would have quit at 100/120 pounds. I was insanely curvy with a small waist and a lot of curves, with limited loose skin. At a certain point though, there is nothing left but vanity to keep you motivated. I solved my health issues losing the first 60 or 70 pounds. The desire to beat the odds, and just see how small I could get kept me going further.
Vanity and more so pride I think can be insurance against regain.

Today I Celebrate my 1 year anniversary of my sleeve surgery!
It's amazing how much has changed in a year! I've lost 118lbs. I've gone from a tight size 28 jean to a loose 18, and a 4X shirt to an XL. I recently fit in an airplane seat comfortably and didn't need a seat belt extender. I love clothes shopping now, can pound out an hour on the elliptical with ease, and can paint my own toenails AND breathe at the same time! =)
I still have about 60 lbs to go, but I have no doubts that I will get there. I feel amazing already, and it's only going to keep getting better from here.

This experience is night and day with mine. I met with my clinic's psychologist twice. One time she had be do a couple of mental health questionairres (screening me for depression, anxiety, and adhd), talked to me about my lifestyle and changes I was making and how prepared I felt for surgery, then gave me suggestions to work on and saw me three months later to see if I had progressed and was compliant with her suggestions. I was, so she signed me off for surgery. Now I have a standing offer to call her if I ever need post surgical emotional support for anything.

I've had acid reflux so bad that now i take a 40mg capsule every day, don't know if my VSG will stop it or not. I was not given the choice of surgery I could have. My surgeon said I should get the sleeve and he's the top surgeon and Director of the Metabolic department at Loyola Hospital in Maywood so I trust his decision, also I take meds for bipolar which is why he said the sleeve would be best.

SW 276
CW 198
Everyone is doing so good!!!
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I have Aetna insurance and I had my first consult on 12/26/2016. I then had my psychiatric evaluation and consult with my GDI and finally completed my endoscopy.
Nutrition consults where from January to March and the office had me schedule one for April then a week later in March I got a call to come in for weigh in on 4/7/17 so they could submit my paperwork on 4/10/17.
Anxiously waiting I kept calling the office with no update and then today 4/19/17 I called Aetna and they said I was approved with service date 5/10/17 and then a few minutes later the office called with the great news
I go in to sign my paperwork tomorrow, Friday I have pre admission testing and then followup with my PCP next Thursday. In all, approval took 7 business days: psychiatric eval, egd, 3 monthly nutritional consults and post consult with surgeon.

Not wanting to hide from family I haven't seen in awhile! I live states away from most family and every time I see them, I feel the need to pre-warn them before they arrive that I'm fat. I have a very vocal family and they like to mention things I already know. I can't wait to WANT to visit family and not try to hide behind my husband or tables!


HW: 328 (02/22/17)
SW: TBD
CW: 288

Pounds disowned to date: 40

Is 4-6 weeks when you KNOW you won't have a leak? Is that how long it takes to fully heal inside? How do you avoid leaks? My surgery will be in June. I'm very afraid of leaks

Getting it over with and passing the 4-6 week mark with no leaks. Honestly, that is the #1 thing I am looking forward to.
Outside of that, I am most excited about the idea of aches and pains subsiding, improving the overall quality of my life (and lifespan, as obesity-related diseases run on both sides of my family) and a distant 3rd is clothes. I will definitely have fun shopping again!